The nurses there were so nice. They put us on gurney's, mine being the Cadillac and JC's being the Prius. After looking at charts and bands, we had to switch. We changed the sheets while the nurses fretted around. JC and I joked the entire time and had the staff laughing with us or looking at us like we were freaks. We had a team come and put IV's in, talk to us about anesthesia and met with the surgeons. After awhile they said it was time to part, so we hugged and kissed best we could and said 'see ya later'. I still wasn't very nervous about surgery. Still more nervous about the concoction working it's way through my system.
The operating room was just like I thought. Small, sterile, white and freezing. It had the steel double doors and I asked if that's where they would go through with my kidney and they said yes. The anesthesiologist (sp?) looked exactly like Apolo Ono. Smoking hot...
Everyone is doing their thing and we are all talking about Chicago restaurants. Which ones are the best, who had been to what ones. Nice banter. They put the mask on my face and I immediately couldn't breathe. Before I could say 'is this thing on', I was out.
I vaguely remember my name being called and crying. I vaguely remember asking for Soldier. Apparently I asked for cupcakes (JC and I were talking about cupcakes in pre-op). I woke up in my hospital room somewhat groggy but feeling OK. I didn't have any pain that I could remember, no nausea and no headache. I clearly remember having the worst dry mouth ever. I slept a lot that first day. They did want me to eat something so I ordered fresh fruit. The smell, I remember, made me feel icky so I didn't eat it. I did have some Sprite and lots of ice water.
The nurses came to get me out of bed early evening I guess. My aunt and cousin had driven to the hospital to see us and brought each of us girlz a crocheted lap blanket, I love this blanket BTW. I got my legs over the side of the bed and started to feel a bit of pain and was worried my guts were going to fall out. I hadn't looked under my gown to see what my stomach looked like. The nurses grabbed an arm and Soldier stood behind. I stood up, got woozy and gagged. After throwing up gallons of water, crying because I was absolutely certain my guts were spewing out, I felt like a rock star. My room was in a cul-de-sac of sorts so they walked me around the circle a few times. I was in some pain, but it felt good to be moving.
After being settle into bed, Soldier said something about my urine output being almost non-existent. I was drinking TONS of fluids, had an IV giving me fluids and nothing. Low and behold, I went into a full blown panic attack. I was afraid my remaining kidney seized and wasn't working and I was surely going to die. The nurse shot me up with Adtivan (sp?)and I went right to sleep.
I spent another day and a half in the hospital and was released. JC had a bit harder time walking around and was much more tired, but she was released a day and a half after I was. We stayed in a local hotel for recovery. I was advised to stay 7 days, JC had to stay 30 days. We recovered together by walking around the hospital, taking short trips to Target for a change of scenery, learning about her med schedule and resting.
Today, if you put our labs side by side with no names, you wouldn't know which one of us they belonged to. We both feel amazing and I feel nothing different. JC said she feels more alive.
THAT is how I saved a life. By donating my left kidney, I have my sister with me. Her husband has his wife. Their son has his mom. My parent's have their daughter. My children have their aunt. I would do it again in a hot minute.
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